674: A Reliable, Boring Partner - Accidental Tech Podcast Recap

Podcast: Accidental Tech Podcast

Published: 2026-01-16

Duration: 2 hr 1 min

Summary

The episode delves into the latest technology in hotspots, Wi-Fi advancements, monitors from CES, Apple's new Creator Studio, and a collaboration between Apple and Google on AI. It also discusses the transition of the Apple Card to Chase and the novel NBA immersive experience using Vision Pro.

What Happened

Casey Liss shares his experience with mobile hotspots, borrowing T-Mobile and Verizon devices from libraries for internet access during trips. Marco Arment discusses his use of a Netgear ATT 5G router due to broken iPhone tethering, highlighting the challenges and costs associated with mobile internet solutions. Meanwhile, John Siracusa discusses the end of CableCARD support from Verizon Fios, signaling a shift in equipment for users like him who have relied on devices like the TiVo Roamio Pro for over a decade.

The episode explores the latest developments in Wi-Fi technology, particularly the introduction of Wi-Fi 8, which promises enhanced stability and power efficiency over Wi-Fi 7. Eero's automatic selection of Wi-Fi channels is noted as a useful feature for users who prefer not to manage these settings manually. Advances in monitors are also discussed, including the MSI MPG 5K monitor, which boasts 2,304 local dimming zones and a 165 Hz refresh rate.

Apple's new Creator Studio is introduced, offering a suite of creative apps like Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for a subscription fee significantly lower than Adobe's offerings. The suite's AI features, including transcript and visual search for video editing, are highlighted. The pricing strategy aims to attract more users by making these tools more accessible, particularly for college students and educators.

A notable collaboration between Apple and Google is announced, where Apple's future AI models will be based on Google's Gemini. This partnership sees Apple paying Google roughly $1 billion annually to enhance Siri with more conversational and factual responses. Concerns about the reliability of such language models in providing accurate information are acknowledged.

The episode covers the transition of the Apple Card from Goldman Sachs to Chase, expected to occur over the next two years. Goldman Sachs, facing challenges due to high delinquency rates, is offloading its Apple Card balances at a significant discount. Despite the transition, MasterCard will remain the payment network, and current users will not experience interruptions.

Finally, the immersive NBA experience on Vision Pro is described, offering users a unique way to watch basketball games with a fixed camera and the ability to view the court from different angles. While the technology is praised for its potential, the lack of audio and smooth transitions in the VR broadcast are noted as areas needing improvement.

Key Insights